Systems, methods and computer products for placing telephone calls via internet protocol television call logs

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and computer products for placing phone calls via Internet Protocol Television call logs. Exemplary embodiments include a method for generating communication requests via an Internet-Protocol-enabled device, the method including receiving a request to initiate a communication request from an Internet-Protocol-enabled device having an Internet-Protocol-enabled device address, mapping the Internet Protocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a calling party number and sending a first communication request to a calling party communication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device.

This application is related to commonly assigned U.S. Patent ApplicationAttorney Docket No. 060484, entitled SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTERPRODUCTS FOR VOICEMAIL VIA INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION, filed on Jul.20, 2007. This application is also related to commonly assigned U.S.Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 070022, entitled SYSTEMS, METHODSAND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR LOGGING OF INCOMING CALLS TO AN INTERNETPROTOCOL TELEVISION CALL LOG, filed On Jul. 20, 2007. This applicationis also related to commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application AttorneyDocket No. 070023, entitled SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FORLOGGING OF OUTGOINGMING CALLS TO AN INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION CALLLOG, filed On Jul. 20, 2007. This application is also related tocommonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 070025,entitled SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR INTERNET PROTOCOLTELEVISION MESSAGE WAITING INDICATION, filed On Jul. 20, 2007. Thisapplication is also related to commonly assigned U.S. Patent ApplicationAttorney Docket No. 070056, entitled SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTERPRODUCTS FOR INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION VOICEMAIL MONITORING, filed OnJul. 20, 2007. Each of the above applications is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and moreparticularly, to systems, methods and computer products for placingphone calls via Internet Protocol Television call logs.

Contemporary cable and satellite television systems generally utilize aset-top box on the subscriber's premises. Sometimes limited set-top boxfunctionality is built into the television, but the set-top box and thetelevision are generally separate devices. The set-top box performsauthentication, authorization, and accounting functions. However, aprimary function of the set-top box (at least from the customer'sviewpoint) is channel selection, including presenting the list ofchannels available to the customer. This list is often referred to asthe electronic programming guide (EPG). Furthermore, Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) utilizes set-top boxes to decode programming deliveredover the IP network. This additional power can also be leveraged toprovide more flexible services to customers. IPTV set top boxes arebeing designed to allow functions such as access to Internet content(weather, maps, video, music), and access to local video content (e.g.,viewing the security camera at the apartment front gate or pool area).

While contemporary cable and satellite television systems offer limitedphone services such as voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), forsubscribers who use conventional telephony telecommunications networkssuch as via public switched telephone network (PSTN) networks, phoneinteraction with the set top box and the television is limited if notnon-existent. For example, a subscriber can place a phone call to enablethe set top box to present a pay-per-view program to the attackedtelevision. Currently, there are no call management features (e.g.,caller identification, voicemail services, call logging, etc.) availablefor interaction between PSTN and IPTV systems.

It is therefore desirable to provide a means for providing callmanagement services and capabilities to IPTV devices where the calleddevice is supported by a telephony network.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include a method for generating communicationrequests via an Internet-Protocol-enabled device, the method includingreceiving a request to initiate a communication request from anInternet-Protocol-enabled device having an Internet-Protocol-enableddevice address, mapping the Internet Protocol-enabled device address ofa calling party to a calling party number and sending a firstcommunication request to a calling party communication device associatedwith the Internet Protocol-enabled device.

Additional exemplary embodiments include a system for generatingcommunication requests via an Internet-Protocol-enabled device, thesystem including a computer processing device and a communicationrequest generation application executing on the computer processingdevice, the communication request application receiving a request toinitiate a communication request from an Internet-Protocol-enableddevice having an Internet-Protocol-enabled device address, mapping theInternet Protocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a callingparty number and sending a first communication request to a callingparty communication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enableddevice.

Further exemplary embodiments include a computer program product forproviding communication requests to an Internet Protocol-enabled device,the computer program product including instructions for causing acomputer to implement a method, the method including receiving a requestto initiate a communication request from an Internet-Protocol-enableddevice having an Internet-Protocol-enabled device address, mapping theInternet Protocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a callingparty number and sending a first communication request to a callingparty communication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enableddevice.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alikein the several FIGURES:

FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IPTV call managementsystem;

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an expanded view of an exemplaryIPTV infrastructure and an exemplary IPTV gateway of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates an IPTV call management method in accordance withexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3A illustrates an IPTV caller identification management method inaccordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying acaller identification message indication in accordance with exemplaryembodiments,

FIG. 4A illustrates an IPTV voicemail management method in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying avoicemail message indication in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying aelectronic programming guide in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying anexemplary message center display in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 4E illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying anexemplary message center display in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 4F illustrates an exemplary communications device displayingvoicemail message indications in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4G illustrates an IPTV voicemail monitoring method in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4H illustrates an exemplary communications device displaying anexemplary voice mail monitoring control in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates an IPTV incoming call logging method in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates an IPTV call return method in accordance withexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates an IPTV outgoing call logging method in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8A illustrates an IPTV message-waiting indication method inaccordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary communications device displayingmessage waiting indications in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary communications device having a close upview of message waiting indications in accordance with exemplaryembodiments; and

FIG. 8D illustrates an exemplary communications device having a close upview of message waiting indications in accordance with exemplaryembodiments.

The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, togetherwith advantages and features, by way of example with reference to thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments include Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)systems that interface with telecommunications (e.g., telephony)networks, thereby providing an IPTV converged services system. Inexemplary embodiments, voicemail can be accessed and managed via IPTV.In other exemplary embodiments, phone calls can be placed or returnedfrom an IPTV call log accessible through an IPTV communications device,such as a set top box and television. In other exemplary embodiments,both incoming and outgoing calls can be logged into the above-mentionedcall log. In other exemplary embodiments, voicemail, as described above,can be monitored during reception of the voicemail. In exemplaryembodiments, various message formats that can be received in an IPTVsystem provide a message waiting indication on the communicationsdevice.

Turning now to FIG. 1A, a block diagram of an exemplary IPTV convergedservices system 100, which implements voicemail via IPTV services inaccordance with exemplary embodiments is now described.

For ease of illustration, the system of FIG. 1A depicts a simplifiednetwork infrastructure. It is understood that a variety of networkcomponents/nodes may be utilized in implementing the embodimentsdescribed herein. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the system 100includes a means for accessing network services for multiple disparatedevices using a single sign on procedure. Therefore, the system 100manages accounts, each of which is established for a community ofdevices and/or device subscribers, such as those devices and subscribersin a subscriber location 105, which may include a communications device106 (e.g., an IPTV-enabled television) coupled to a set top box 110,subscriber call devices 107, 108 and a subscriber computer 109. Theaccounts may thus include phone, network access and IPTV services andmay be used to provide access to the converged services as describedfurther herein. Furthermore, in exemplary embodiments, one of thedevices can be provisioned for the network services described herein byassociating a device identifier of the communications device with arespective account. According to exemplary embodiments, the account, inturn, identifies each of the communications devices belonging to thecommunity and provides other information as described herein.

It is appreciated to those skilled in the art that the networksdiscussed herein may include circuit-switched and/or packet-switchedtechnologies and devices, such as routers, switches, and/or hubs, forfacilitating communications between various types of communicationsdevices such as the communications device 106, wireline phone 107,wireless phone 108, subscriber computer 109, an IPTV infrastructure 200(discussed below), and an IPTV gateway 250 (discussed below). Othernetworks may include wireline and/or wireless components utilizing,e.g., 802.11 standards for providing over-the-air transmissions ofcommunications.

As discussed above, the system 100 of FIG. 1A includes the subscriberlocation 105, such as the subscriber's household. The subscriberlocation 105 can include the communications device 106 (e.g., anIPTV-enabled television, etc.) in communication with the set top box110. The set top box 110 can have access to a call log 111 into whichcalls made to and from the subscriber call devices 107, 108 can belogged into the call log 111 and communicated to the set top box 110,which are implemented as part of the converged services describedherein. In exemplary embodiments, the call log 111 resides on the IPTVgateway 250 and can reside on the set top box 110. The subscriberlocation 105 can further include a remote control 112 for control andnavigation of the communications device 106. The subscriber location 105can further include subscriber call devices 107, 108. Subscriber calldevice 107 is illustrated as a wireline telephone associated with anaccount that also services the communications device 106 (e.g., bothdevices are within the community of a single account or household andmay be co-located at a single customer premises (i.e., the subscriberlocation 105)). The subscriber call device 108 is illustrated as awireless telephone associated with the account that also services thecommunications device 106, and the subscriber call device 107. It isappreciated that several other subscriber call devices arc possibleincluding but not limited a SIP telephone, dual-mode mobile telephone,personal digital assistant (PDA), or other type of communicationsdevice, and that the subscriber call devices 107, 108 are shown anddiscussed for illustrative purposes. The subscriber location 105 canfurther include the subscriber computer 109 for communication withnetworks such as the Internet (not shown) and the IPTV infrastructure200.

The system 100 can implement converged services such that calls made andreceived by the subscriber can be managed through the subscriber'sIPTV-enabled device, such as the communications device 106, via the settop box 110. As such, the system 100 may further include the IPTVinfrastructure 200 in communication with the IPTV gateway 250 (discussedfurther with respect to FIG. 1B below). In exemplary embodiments, theIPTV infrastructure 200 can be an IP-based network that receives networkdata (e.g., call information) from a controller server 125, and deliversthe call information to the set top box 110 for display or otherrendering on the communications device 106. The IPTV gateway 250 is incommunication with the controller server 125 (e.g., service controlpoint (SCP) server or application server). The controller server 125 mayalso communicate with other networks as discussed further in thedescription below, for example. According to exemplary embodiments, oneor more service package applications (SPAs) 126 reside on the controllerserver 125 and are implemented for the converged services as describedfurther below. The SPA applications 126 can implement several of theconverged services, described herein, such as those that involve callprocessing. For example, the SPA applications 126 can implement calleridentification, voicemail monitoring, and outgoing call logging. Inexemplary embodiments, the SPA applications 126 handle communication toand from the IPTV gateway 250, as described herein. The SPA application126 can be a program having logic, voice files, data structures, etc.for call processing.

In exemplary embodiments, the system 100 can further include one or moreservice nodes 130. The service nodes 130 can place and bridge multiplecalls to implement the converged services described herein. As such theservice nodes 130 are in communication with a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN) 140. The PSTN 140 may include central office switches(not shown), which in turn may include service switching point (SSP)functionality (not shown). According to exemplary embodiments, theswitches originate and/or terminate calls and communicate over asignaling system 7 (SS7) network 145 with the controller system 125 anda caller identification name database 127 to determine how to route acall, or set up and manage a call feature such as the convergedservices. It is appreciated that the controller server 125 and theservice nodes 130 can be part of an advanced intelligent network (AIN).The service nodes 130 can include additional SPA applications 132, whichcan be implemented to handle call services such as placing and bridgingphone calls. For example, the SPA applications 132 can implement callreturn via an IPTV call log service, and voicemail monitoring services.The SPA applications 132 may be initiated as a result of terminationattempt triggering events or off hook delay trigger events, as describedherein.

In exemplary embodiments, the controller server 125 is in furthercommunication with the caller identification database (e.g., CNAMdatabase) 127. The caller identification database 127 may include atable of telephony subscriber information (e.g., subscriber names andnumbers) and is configured to map the names to the caller party numbersreceived at the controller server 125 upon a request from the controllerserver, or other component of the system 100. In exemplary embodiments,the IPTV database 128 contains IPTV addresses for IPTV-enabledcommunications devices (e.g., the communications device 106), each ofwhich are mapped to another communications device address (e.g.,telephone number assigned to a user of the subscriber call devices 107,108). The addresses for these devices 106-108 are mapped to one another,such that caller identification information for a call that is directedto a first communications device via a voice network (e.g., thesubscriber call devices 107, 108) is transmitted to, and presented on,an IPTV-enabled communications device (e.g., the communications device106) over a data network (e.g., the IPTV infrastructure 200). Asdiscussed above, the controller server 125 executes the SPA application126 for implementing such converged services.

Referring still to FIG. 1A, the IPTV gateway 250 is in furthercommunication with a media server 131 that provides media resources usedin exemplary implementations of the converged services. For example, asdiscussed further below, the media server 131 can be implemented tocoordinate voicemail translations from a .wav format to a .wma formatvia a media encoder 135, which is also in communication with the IPTVgateway 250.

In exemplary embodiments, the controller server 125 is implemented tocoordinate translation and call data from the SS7 network 145, whichprovides call connection control. The SS7 network 145 may includevarious network elements, such as signal transfer points (STPs) (notshown), packet switches for routing call signaling traffic through thesystem 100. The SS7 network 145 may transmit the call signals viareserved channels, or signaling links, that connect central offices (notshown) of the PSTN 140 and other network elements.

In further exemplary embodiments, a global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) network 150 or other mobile communications networkcan be in communication with the SS7 network 145 for implementingwireless communications via a wireless base station/cell tower 151 tothe subscriber call device 108. Those skilled in the art also appreciatethat the GSM network 150 is in further communication with a mobileswitching center (MSC) 152, which is responsible for routing incomingand outgoing calls within the GSM network or to and from a wirelinenetwork (e.g., the PSTN 140) or to and from other wireless networks. TheMSC 152 queries a home location register (HLR) 153, which provides theadministrative information required to authenticate, register and locatethe subscriber call device 108. In alternate exemplary embodiments, thecaller and/or the called party may be served by an IMS-basedtelecommunications network that is capable of responding to triggeringevents, and is in communication with the caller identification database127 by SS7 or IP connectivity.

Therefore, the subscriber call device 107 can be in communication withthe PSTN 140, which can further be in communication with an externalcall device 141. Furthermore, the subscriber call device 108 (which caninclude a subscriber identity module (SIM) card) can be in communicationwith the wireless base station/cellular tower 151, and thus incommunication with the external call device 141 via the GSM network 150,the SS7 network 145 and PSTN 140. The external calling device 141 isunderstood to be a phone or other device used to make and receive callsthat is used to communicate with the call devices such as the subscribercall devices 107, 108, associated with the subscriber location 105, suchthat converged services service can be implemented with respect to callsmade and received to the subscriber location 105. Therefore, it isappreciated that there may be several triggers that, upon, detection,trigger the SPA application 126 to process the incoming or outgoing callsignal and implement by the converged services as described herein. Forsimplicity of discussion, the subscriber call device 107, a wirelinedevice, is described herein and is further described as being incommunication with the external call device 141, which is considered awireline device for further simplicity of discussion. It is understoodand appreciated that the external call device 141 can be other calldevices including but not limited a cellular phone, a SIP telephone,dual-mode mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or othertype of communications device.

Referring still to FIG. 1A, the IPTV gateway 250 is further incommunication with an email server 160, which is in communication with avoicemail infrastructure 165 (e.g., Post Office Protocol version 3(POP3)). It is appreciated that the voicemail infrastructure 165 can beany known voicemail system in communication with the PSTN 140, whichmanages voicemail left, for example, by a user of the external calldevice 141 when a call is not answered by the subscriber call device107, 108. According to exemplary embodiments, the voicemailinfrastructure 165 is in communication with the email server 160 suchthat indications can be made to the IPTV gateway 250 when there is avoicemail, as described herein.

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an expanded view of an exemplaryembodiment of the IPTV infrastructure 200 and an exemplary embodiment ofthe IPTV gateway 250 of FIG. 1. In exemplary embodiments, the IPTVinfrastructure 200 provides an interface between the subscriber location105 and the IPTV gateway 250. The IPTV infrastructure 200 furtherhandles account to the set top box 110 mapping of messages and otherinformation, as discussed further below. In exemplary implementations, anotification server 210 and a terminal server 220 operate to interlacecommunication between the subscriber location 105 via the set top box110, and the IPTV gateway 250. For example, in exemplaryimplementations, as discussed below, when the set top box 110 provides aunique identification number, a message is passed between thenotification server 210 and the set top box 110.

The IPTV gateway 250 provides an interface between the controller server125 and the IPTV infrastructure 200 and the subscriber location 105. Asdiscussed above and described in greater detail below, the IPTV gateway250 handles notifications to the IPTV subscriber and further provides ahistory of the notifications. Furthermore, the IPTV gateway 250 handlesaccount to telephone mapping as discussed further herein. In addition,the IPTV gateway 250 interfaces with the various system 100 elements asdescribed herein. For example, the IPTV gateway 250 is in communicationwith the voicemail infrastructure 165 to retrieve messages (e.g., EMAILmessages) regarding voicemail notifications. The IPTV gateway 250 is infurther communication with the media server 131 and media encoder 135for voicemail encoding, for example. The IPTV gateway 250 is also incommunication with the controller server 125 for handling calleridentification information received from the PSTN 140, for example. Inexemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway 250 can include a back end 260and a front end 270. The front end 270 can be used to implement variousprovisioning activities such as but not limited to initial provisioningof phone numbers and IPTV addresses. The back end 260, as describedfurther herein, is implemented for many of the converged services. Assuch, the back end 260 can include various elements including but notlimited to a caller ID handler, email handler, message handler, andprovisioning handler.

In exemplary embodiments, one of the devices, such as the communicationsdevice 106 (and the set top box 110 combination) can be used toestablish account services, such as the converged services describedherein. An account record may be generated for the subscriber at thesubscriber location 105, which identifies the subscriber and the accountfor the services (e.g., basic account services as described above andconverged services described herein). Account information and recordsmay be stored in a storage device accessible by the IPTV gateway 250. Inexemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway 250 implements one or moreapplications for establishing and utilizing a converged services serviceaccount. A converged services service account may thus be created for acommunity of communications devices (e.g., the communications device106, subscriber call devices 107, 108, and/or subscriber computer 109)to enable the communications devices to implement the converged servicesas described herein. A preferences server 211 (FIG. 1A) includespreferences information for the subscriber location 105 as describedfurther herein.

In exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway 250 may implementauthentication using a high-speed processing device (e.g., a computersystem) that is capable of handling high volume activities conducted viacommunications devices, and other network entities (e.g., parts of theIPTV infrastructure 200, base station or cell tower 151, and a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) network 140) via one or more networks(e.g., the IPTV infrastructure 200, etc. as described herein). The IPTVgateway 250 receives requests from one or more devices from thesubscriber location 105 either to establish a converged services serviceaccount or to access network services, such as the converged services.The IPTV gateway 250 may implement authentication software forrestricting or controlling access to network services. The IPTV gateway250 may be in communication with a customer identity system (CIS)database, which stores subscriber credentials (e.g., subscriber namesand passwords) established via the converged services account.

FIG. 2 illustrates an IPTV converged services method 2 in accordancewith exemplary embodiments. The method 2 illustrates an overallexemplary IPTV converged services flow, with specific sub-flowsdiscussed subsequently with respect to the figures described below.

In exemplary embodiments, an external user makes a phone call to thesubscriber location 105 using the external calling device 141 over avoice network such as the PSTN 140 at step 5. A central office switch orSSP of the PSTN 140 receives the communication (e.g., communicationsignaling), resulting in a termination attempt trigger. The triggercauses a communication request to proceed over the SS7 network 145 via,e.g., a signal transfer point (STP). The communication request isreceived at the controller server 125. The communication requestincludes call-related information, e.g., called party number (e.g., anumber assigned with the subscriber call devices 107, 108) and callerparty number associated with a communications device such as theexternal call device 141. According to exemplary embodiments, the callerSPA application 126 authorizes a communication session between thecalled party device and the caller party device via a return reply(e.g., termination authorization signal) over the signaling network(e.g., the SS7 network 145). At the same time, the SPA 126 searches thecaller identification database 127 for calling party identificationinformation (e.g., caller name). The calling party identificationinformation is retrieved from the database 127. The IPTV gateway 250further searches the IPTV database 128 for the called party number. Thecalled party number may be used to map communications addressinformation for devices, such as the communications device 106 and/orthe set top box 110. The IPTV gateway 250 further retrieves an IPTVaddress mapped to the called party number. The IPTV address may be auniform resource locator (URL), Internet address, or other type ofaddress. The calling party identification information is transmittedover a data network (e.g., the IPTV infrastructure 200) via the IPTVgateway 250 to the IPTV-enabled communications device assigned to theIPTV address (e.g., the communications device 106 and/or the set top box110). As discussed further below, the calling party identificationinformation may be transmitted to the set top box 110 of theIPTV-enabled communications device 106 using, e.g., UDP/HTTP protocols,where the calling party identification information is displayed orotherwise rendered on the IPTV device at step 210 (see FIG. 3A). Inexemplary embodiments, the preferences server 211 may includeinformation specifying which of several IPTV set top boxes, such as theset top box 110, have requested to receive caller information, and whichhave not, etc.

When the call is made at step 5, the incoming call is further logged inthe IPTV call log 111 at step 70 (see FIG. 5). As discussed above, whenthe calling party identification information is transmitted over a datanetwork (e.g., the IPTV infrastructure 200) via the IPTV gateway 250 tothe IPTV-enabled communications device assigned to the IPTV address(e.g., communications device 106), the party identification informationis further logged into the call log 111 on the IPTV gateway 250. It isappreciated that the call log 111 may further reside on the set top box110, or the controller server 125. As discussed further below, thecalling party identification information may be transmitted to the settop box 110 of the IPTV-enabled communications device 106 using, e.g.,UDP/HTTP protocols, where the calling party identification informationis logged at step 70.

If the subscriber answers the phone call at step 15, the flow ends. Itis appreciated that the display of the caller identification informationon the communications device 106 allows the subscriber to know who isplacing the phone call, and thus can make a decision to answer the phoneor not. If the subscriber does not take the phone call at step 15, thenat step 20 the method 2 determines whether or not the caller leaves avoicemail. If the caller does not leave a voicemail at step 20, then theflow ends. If the caller does leave a voicemail at step 20, then thevoicemail is recorded in the voicemail infrastructure 165 at step 25 inaccordance with voicemail systems and methods known in the art. At step30 (see FIGS. 4A and 8A), in accordance with exemplary embodiments, thevoicemail infrastructure 165 informs the email server 160 that avoicemail is left. The email server 160 then sends a message to the IPTVgateway 250, which sends a voicemail indication to the set top box 110via the IPTV infrastructure 200 at step 30. In one exemplaryimplementation, the voicemail indication is a text message sent to thecommunications device 106 indicating that a voicemail is in the processof being left. In another exemplary implementation, another indicationis a message indicating that a voicemail has been left. In theaforementioned exemplary implementations, the message can be displayedon the communications device 106, but does not persist. It isappreciated that such a non-persistent message can be desirable so thatthe message does not interfere with the subscriber's viewing ability.However, in another exemplary implementation, a persistent messagewaiting indication can be displayed on the communications device. Thepersistent message can be in the form of an icon or other indicator on aportion of the communications device 106 display in an area away from amain viewing area.

At step 35, it is determined whether or not the subscriber listens tothe voicemail, which can be from the call log 111, after the voicemailhas been left, etc. If the subscriber does not choose to listen to thevoicemail at step 35, then, the flow ends. If the subscriber chooses tolisten to the voicemail at step 35 when the subscriber receives anindication that the voicemail is in the process of being left, then thesubscriber can also monitor the voicemail (see FIG. 4G). Regardless ofhow the subscriber listens to the voicemail, the voicemail is deliveredto the media server 131 and ultimately to the subscriber location 105for rendering on the communications device 106 at step 45. In exemplaryembodiments, the voicemail can be left in the voicemail infrastructure165 as a .wav file. The IPTV gateway 250 can coordinate the transfer ofthe voicemail file for translation to a .wma format in the media encoder135. The media server 131 can then send the voicemail through the IPTVgateway 250 and the IPTV infrastructure 200 to the set top box 110 sothat the subscriber can listen to the voicemail on the communicationsdevice 106.

Regardless of how the subscriber has handled the call that is, by eithernot taking the call at step 15, listening to the voicemail or notlistening to the voicemail at step 35, the call is logged into the calllog 111 at step 70, as described above. The subscriber can use one ofthe subscriber call devices 107, 108 to return the phone call (andlisten to the voicemail through the call log 111). In exemplaryembodiments, the subscriber can also use the IPTV call log 111 to returnthe phone call. Therefore, at step 50, if the subscriber does not returnthe phone call, the flow ends. If the subscriber does return the phonecall via the IPTV call log 111 at step 50, then the phone call is placedvia the IPTV call log 111 at step 60 (see FIG. 6), and the call islogged as an outgoing call in the IPTV call log 111 at step 65.

As discussed above, it is appreciated that the method 2 of FIG. 2illustrates an overview of the IPTV converged services methodsimplemented in the system 100 as described herein. Further details ofthe exemplary voicemail management via IPTV, call placement/return viathe IPTV call log 111, incoming and outgoing call logging, voicemailmonitoring, and message waiting indication methods are now described.

FIG. 3A illustrates an IPTV caller identification management method 300in accordance with exemplary embodiments. As discussed above, acommunication is initiated by the external call device 141 over a voicenetwork (e.g., the PSTN 140). A central office switch or SSP of the PSTN140 receives the communication (e.g., communication signaling),resulting in a termination attempt trigger. The trigger causes acommunication request to proceed over the SS7 network 145 via, e.g., asignal transfer point (STP). At step 305, the communication request isreceived at the controller server 125. The communication requestincludes call-related information, e.g., called party number (e.g., anumber assigned with the subscribers call device 107, 108) and thecaller party number. The SPA application 126 authorizes a communicationsession between the subscriber's call device 107 and the external calldevice 141 via a return reply (e.g., termination authorization signal)over the signaling network (e.g., the SS7 network 145) at step 310. Atthe same time, caller identification database 127 is searched forcalling party identification information (e.g., caller name).

At step 315, the calling party identification information is retrievedfrom the database 127. The SPA application 126 searches the IPTVdatabase 128 for the called party number. The called party number may beused to map communications address information for devices, such as thesubscriber's call devices 107, 108 and communications device 106. AnIPTV address mapped to the called party number is retrieved at step 320.The IPTV address may be a uniform resource locator (URL), Internetaddress, or other type of address. At step 325, the calling partyidentification information is transmitted over the IPTV gateway 250 andthe IPTV infrastructure 200 to the IPTV-enabled communications deviceassigned to the IPTV address (e.g., the communications device 106). Inan exemplary implementation, TCP communication can be exchanged betweenthe IPTV infrastructure 200 and the IPTV gateway 250 in order tocoordinate transfer of the set top box 110 identification, for example.The calling party identification information may be transmitted to theset top box 110 of the IPTV-enabled communications device 106 using,e.g., UDP/HTTP protocols, where the calling party identificationinformation is displayed or otherwise rendered on the IPTV device (e.g.,the communications device 106). It is understood that the preferencesserver 211 may include information specifying which of several IPTV settop boxes, such as the set top box 110, have requested to receive callerinformation, and which have not. The preferences server 211 may furtherinclude set top preferences for display on the communications device 106and exchange of caller ID information, etc. The caller identificationservices described above may be modified or adapted to varyingcommunication networks. It is further appreciated that the methodsdescribed herein provide an identification message and correspondingmessage indication whether the subscriber is receiving a call via callwaiting, for example.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 displaying a caller identification message indication 370 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. It is now appreciated that when asubscriber receives a phone call as described above, the subscriber'scall device 107 rings as described. In addition, the message is sent tothe communications device 106 (e.g., an IPTV enabled television having ascreen 375) and the message indication 370 is displayed on the screen,which can occur over normal programming content 380. In other exemplaryembodiments, the message indication 370 can be displayed in other areasof the screen 375. As discussed above, in exemplary embodiments, themessage indication 370 can be displayed for a short period of time andthen be removed from the screen 375. In other exemplary embodiments, thecaller identification message indication 370 can include an icon 371representing a phone call. As illustrated, the default icon 371 can bedisplayed, which is illustrated as a telephone. However, the icon can bea unique representation related to the caller including, but not limitedto, a picture, a video clip, a text clip, or a customized icon. Therepresentation icon 371 can be stored locally such as on thesubscriber's set top box 110, or alternatively, the representation canbe linked to the caller identification information stored in the calleridentification database 127.

In other exemplary embodiments, the icon 371 could be linked to an audiofile that is unique to the caller such as a voice announcing thecaller's name, which can be local to the subscriber location 105, suchas residing on the set top box 110. Alternatively, the audio file couldbe coupled to the caller identification information stored in the calleridentification database 127. In an exemplary implementation, theabove-described audio file can be recorded by the caller in the same waythat a caller announces a name and greeting when setting up a voicemailaccount, for example. The delivery of the representation to thesubscriber's set top box 110 can be implemented in the same way that thecaller identification information is delivered as described herein. Theaddition of video and audio is implemented as voicemail is deliveredusing the media server 131 as described below with respect to deliveryof voicemail.

FIG. 4A illustrates an IPTV voicemail management method 400 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. As discussed above, a voicemailcan be left in the voicemail infrastructure 165 at step 405. When thevoicemail is left in the voicemail infrastructure 165, the email server160 is alerted thereby initiating a communication between the emailserver 160 and the IPTV gateway 250 at step 410. In another exemplaryimplementation, the IPTV gateway 250 can periodically access thevoicemail infrastructure 165 to see if there has been a new voicemaildeposited into the subscriber's voicemail account. At step 415, the IPTVgateway 250 retrieves the voicemail file from the voicemailinfrastructure. In one exemplary implementation, the voicemail file canbe in a .wav format. As such, at step 420 the IPTV gateway 250 accessesthe media server 131 and the media encoder 135 in order to initiate anencoding session. In one exemplary implementation, the .wav voicemailfile can be encoded into .wma format for streaming to the set top box110. In turn, the media server 131 can store the encoded .wma file untilthe subscriber has decided to listen to the voicemail. Thus, at step425, the IPTV gateway 250 requests and obtains the encoded file. At step430, the IPTV gateway 250 communicates with the preferences server 211to obtain the preferences, etc. In exemplary embodiments, thepreferences server 211 stores preferences based on the set top box ID,and mapping between the IPTV account number and the set top box 110 isstored in the IPTV infrastructure 200. In an exemplary implementation,TCP communication can be exchanged between the preferences server 211and the IPTV gateway 250 in order to coordinate transfer of the set topbox 110 identification, the set top box 110 preferences for display onthe communications device 106 and exchange of voicemail messageindication, for example. The voicemail message indication (see FIG. 4B)may be transmitted to the set top box 110 of the IPTV-enabledcommunications device 106 using, e.g., UDP/HTTP protocols, where thevoicemail message indication is displayed or otherwise rendered on theIPTV device at step 435. Then, at the subscriber's request, at step 440,the set top box 110 communicates with the media server 131 to stream theencoded voicemail to the set top box 110 for rendering on thecommunications device 106.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 displaying a voicemail message indication 470 in accordance withexemplary embodiments. It is now appreciated that when a subscriberreceives a voicemail as described above, a message is sent to thecommunications device 106 (e.g., an IPTV enabled television having thescreen 375) and the voicemail message indication 470 is displayed on thescreen, which can occur over the normal programming content 380. Inother exemplary embodiments, the message indication 470 can be displayedin other areas of the screen 375. As discussed above, in exemplaryembodiments, the message indication 470 can be displayed for a shortperiod of time and then be removed from the screen 375. In otherexemplary embodiments, as described below with respect to FIGS. 8A-8D, avoicemail message indication can be displayed on the screen 375 thatnotifies the subscriber a voicemail is in the process of being left, atwhich time the subscriber can choose to monitor the voicemail. In otherexemplary embodiments, the caller voicemail message indication 470 caninclude an icon 471 representing a voicemail. As illustrated, thedefault icon 471 can be displayed, which is illustrated as an envelope.However, the icon 471 can be a unique representation related to thecaller, including, but not limited to, a picture, a video clip, a textclip, a customized icon, etc. The representation can be stored locallysuch as on the subscriber's set top box 110, or alternatively, therepresentation can be linked to the caller identification informationstored in the caller identification database 127.

In other exemplary embodiments, the icon 471 could be linked to an audiofile that is unique to the caller such as a voice announcing thecaller's name, which can be local to the subscriber location 105, suchas residing on the set top box 110. Alternatively, the audio file couldbe coupled to the caller identification information stored in the calleridentification database 127. In an exemplary implementation, theabove-described audio file can be recorded by the caller in the same waythat a caller announces a name and greeting when setting up a voicemailaccount, for example. In still other embodiments, the audio file can bea portion of the actual voicemail that was deposited. The delivery ofthe representation to the subscriber's set top box 110 can beimplemented in the same way that the caller identification informationis delivered as described herein. The addition of video and audio isimplemented as voicemail is delivered using the media server 131 asdescribed below with respect to delivery of voicemail.

When the subscriber desires to listen to the voicemail and the mediaserver 131 begins streaming the voicemail file to the set top box 110,the subscriber can use the remote control 112 to navigate onscreeninstructions on the communications device 106, which is now described.FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 displaying an electronic programming guide (EPG) 475 on the screen375. In exemplary embodiments, in order for the subscriber to initiatethe streaming of the encoded voicemail message to the set top box 110,the subscriber can navigate the subscriber's EPG 475 using the remotecontrol 112 to access menu entries that generate commands that notifythe IPTV gateway 250 that playback of the voicemail file is desired. TheEPG 475 can include various menu entries 476 that can be used to selectchannels for viewing. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, anadditional menu entry 477 can be selected to enter a message centerdisplay 480. When the subscriber selects and enters the entry 477, themessage center display 480 and entries from the call log 111 can bedisplayed.

FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 displaying an exemplary embodiment of the message center display 480having entries 481 associated with the call log 111. In exemplaryembodiments, the call log entries 481 include a message type 482, whichin this example is a “call” having a corresponding icon. The entries 481can further include an iconic indication 483 of a voicemail, which inthis example, is shown by the entry for “John Smith”. The entries 481can further include a date/time stamp 484, a phone number 485 and aname/call type 486, which can be an “Outgoing Call”. In accordance withexemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway 250 coordinates messages to thecommunications device 106 relating to the various entry indications. Forexample, when the IPTV gateway 250 retrieves caller identificationinformation from the caller identification database 127, the IPTVgateway 250 coordinates transfer of the caller identificationinformation for population of the entries 482, 483, 484, 485, 486.Furthermore, the IPTV gateway 250 tracks whether or not a call isincoming, or outgoing and thus coordinates the population of the entry486 accordingly.

Referring still to FIG. 4D, if the subscriber uses the remote control112 to navigate on one of the entries 481 and chooses the “John Smith”entry, for example, which includes a voicemail, then the subscriber isnavigated to another message center display 490. FIG. 4E illustrates anexemplary embodiment of the communications device 106 displaying anexemplary embodiment of the message center display 480 on the screen375. The message center display 480 can include menu lines 491 fordisplaying the caller identification information and other demographicinformation such as the date of receipt of the voicemail. The messagecenter display 480 can further include a menu entry 492 for listening tothe voicemail and another menu entry 493 for returning the phone call,which is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 6. Thesubscriber can highlight the desired entry indicating a desired actionto initiate, in this ease to listen to the voicemail, which generatesthe command to the media server 131 to stream the voicemail to the settop box 110 for play back on the communications device 106. Once themenu entry 492 is selected, the voicemail is then played on thecommunications device 106. In exemplary implementations, various othernon-persistent messages such as “Retrieving Voice Mail . . . ”, “PlayingVoice Mail . . . ”, “Finished Playing Voice Mail” can be displayed onthe screen 375 to alert the subscriber of the status of the voicemailplayback. The delivery of the message is performed in accordance withthe embodiments described herein.

It is thus appreciated that a party can generate a telephone call to anIPTV subscriber triggering a trigger termination trigger (TAT) and apop-up on the communications device screen 375 indicating an incomingcall. If the subscriber chooses not to take the phone call, the call istransferred to the subscriber's voicemail, where the incoming callerdeposits a voice message into the voicemail infrastructure 165. Thevoicemail infrastructure 165 establishes a connection to the emailserver 160 and sends a message (e.g., a SMTP message) to a pre-definedemail account containing an Automatic Number Identification (ANI), orcalling party telephone number, called party, Message ID, and, in oneimplementation, the voice message.

The destination email account is forwarded to a general IPTV emailaccount, which is reviewed frequently for email and voicemailnotifications. In one exemplary implementation, when a voicemailnotification is detected, the IPTV gateway 250 extracts the voicemailbox number and connects to the voicemail infrastructure 165 viasecure shell “ssh” protocol and starts an imap4 session. During theimap4 session specific commands are executed to log into the specifiedmailbox, extract the available message envelope, flags, and specificvoice message (which, is a base64 .wav format), log out of the voicemailbox, and exit the imap4 session, according to exemplary embodiments.The voice message is then back to one of the IPTV gateway 250.

In one exemplary implementation, the IPTV gateway 250 sends the .wavformatted file to the media encoder 135 to convert the file to aWindows® Advanced Systems Format (ASF) file. The “.asf” file is storedon the media server 131 and made available for streaming. The subscribercan then listen to the voicemail by accessing an application to launchthe message center 480 on the subscriber's set top box 110.

Referring again to FIG. 4E, the message center 480 includes additionalentries that indicate a desired action. The message center 480 caninclude a save voicemail entry 494, which, when selected, saves thevoicemail in the voicemail infrastructure 165. Similarly, the messagecenter 480 can include a delete voicemail entry 495, which, whenselected, deletes the voicemail from the voicemail infrastructure 165.The return call entry 493 and a call again entry 496 can be selected bythe subscriber in order to place a call via the IPTV call log 111 asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 2 and further below with respect toFIG. 6. In exemplary embodiments, the message center display 480 caninclude or exclude any number of the entries 492, 493, 494, 495, 496depending on how the call is logged and/or whether or not a voicemail isleft. For example, if no voicemail is left in the voicemailinfrastructure 165, then the message center display 480 does not includethe listen to voicemail entry 492, the save voicemail entry 494, and thedelete voicemail entry 495. Furthermore, if the call is logged as anincoming call, then the return call entry 493 is displayed on themessage center display 480. In contrast, if the call is logged as anoutgoing call, then the call again entry 496 is displayed on the messagecenter 480. It is appreciated that the entries 492, 493, 494, 495, 496can vary depending on how the call has been handled within the system100. It is further appreciated that the entries are populated on themessage center display 480 by the IPTV gateway 250, according toexemplary embodiments. In exemplary embodiments, when a voicemail isdeleted from the call log 111, the voicemail is also deleted from thevoicemail infrastructure 165. Similarly, if a voicemail is saved fromthe call log 111, the voicemail is saved in an archived location in thevoicemail infrastructure 165.

Referring again to FIGS. 3B and 4B, the caller identification indication370 and the voicemail message indication 470 can be displayed on thescreen 375 to alert the subscriber of the receipt of a phone call andvoicemail message, respectively. In other exemplary embodiments, thesubscriber can receive an indication that the caller is in the processof leaving a voicemail. The subscriber can then choose to monitor thevoicemail and optionally pick up the phone and speak to the caller whilein the process of leaving the voicemail. FIG. 4F illustrates anexemplary embodiment of the communications device 106 displayingvoicemail message indications 470 a, 470 b in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. As discussed, the voicemail message indication 470 a statesthat caller is in the process of leaving a voicemail. In exemplaryembodiments, the subscriber can choose to listen to the voicemail bynavigating the screen 375 with the remote control 112 in order tohighlight the indication 470 a and select the indication 470 a to streamthe voicemail to the set top box 110 and listen to the voicemail via thecommunications device 106 as the voicemail is being left. Furthermore,an additional message indication 470 b can be displayed and subsequentlyselected by the subscriber, which asks the subscriber whether or not thesubscriber would like to take the phone call.

FIG. 4G illustrates an IPTV voicemail monitoring method 401 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. At step 402, as discussed above,the external call device 141 initiates a communication over a voicenetwork (e.g., the PSTN 140). A central office switch or SSP of the PSTN140 receives the communication (e.g., communication signaling),resulting in a termination attempt trigger. The trigger causes acommunication request to proceed over the SS7 network 145 via, e.g.,STP. The communication request is received at the controller server 125.The communication request includes call-related information, e.g.,called party number (e.g., a number assigned with the subscribers calldevice 107, 108) and the caller party number. The SPA application 126authorizes a communication session between the subscriber's call device107 and the external call device 141 via a return reply (e.g.,termination authorization signal) over the signaling network (e.g., theSS7 network 145). At the same time, caller identification database 127is searched for calling party identification information (e.g., callername). The information is used to provide both a caller identificationindication, such as the indication 370 and a voicemail being leftindication, such as the indication 470.

At step 412, as discussed above, the caller is connected to thevoicemail infrastructure 165. In an exemplary implementation, the SSPconnects to the media server 131, which in turn, connects to thevoicemail infrastructure 165. The media server 131 further routes thevoicemail to the media encoder 135 and through the IPTV gateway 250 andIPTV infrastructure 200 to the set top box 110, where the voicemail isthen available for monitoring. In addition, as described above, amessage is sent to the set top box 110 that a voicemail is in theprocess of being left, at step 413. Therefore, at step 422, if thesubscriber wants to listen to the voicemail, the voicemail is streamedto the set top box 110 at step 432. If at step 422, the subscriber doesnot want to monitor the voicemail, then the voicemail is deposited intothe voicemail infrastructure 165 as discussed above, and the flow ends.The media server 131 can then tear down the connection to the set topbox 110 and the voicemail can proceed to be deposited into the voicemailinfrastructure 165.

In one exemplary implementation, the decision of the subscriber whetheror not to monitor voicemail can be logged in the call log 111. Forexample, an additional indication can be included as an entry in thecall log 111 to indicate, whether the subscriber monitored the voicemailor not, whether or not the subscriber took the phone call whilemonitoring the voicemail, and the times of monitoring, as discussedfurther in the description below.

It is appreciated that the service node 130 routes the caller leavingthe voicemail to multiple locations, that is, the voicemailinfrastructure 165 and to the media encoder 135. In turn, the voicemailis sent to the media server 131, then ultimately to the set top box 110.In additional exemplary embodiments, the service node 130 can bridge thevoicemail to additional endpoints such as other call devices (notshown). As such, multiple end devices can be bridged into the monitoredvoicemail. It is therefore appreciated that management rules regardingwhom and under what circumstances the voicemail can be monitored can beimplemented. In addition, as the voicemail is in the process of beingmonitored, the media server 131 can encrypt the voicemail as it is beingstreamed.

Referring still to FIG. 4G, as the voicemail is being streamed to theset top box 110 at step 432, the subscriber can elect to take the phonecall. Therefore, at step 442, the method 401 determines whether or notthe subscriber takes the phone call. If the subscriber decides to takethe phone call at step 442, the subscriber can select the indication 470b using the remote control 112, which sends a message to the mediaserver 131 at step 443 indicating that the subscriber does want to takethe phone call. The service node 130 can then, in turn, bridges thephone calls as now described. In exemplary embodiments, the SPAapplication 132 is invoked to instruct the system 100 components tobridge the phone calls. As discussed above, the SPA application 132 canreside wholly on the controller server 125, partially on the controllerserver and the service node 130, or wholly on the media service node130. The SPA application 132 then uses the subscriber call number toplace a phone call to the subscriber via the PSTN 140. In an exemplaryimplementation, the subscriber's call device rings with a ring tone thatis unique for calls placed to the subscriber by the SPA application 132from the service node 130 to bridge the call to the calling party. Inone exemplary implementation, the service node 130 implements primaryrate interface (PRI) lines to route phones calls.

Once the subscriber indicates that the subscriber wants to take thephone call at step 442, the streaming ends at step 452 and the call isconnected at step 462. In exemplary embodiments, once the subscriberpicks up the subscriber call device 107, the two calls (i.e., theoriginal call from the calling party and the call made to the subscriberfrom the service node 130) are immediately bridged. When the subscriberpicks up the phone, the subscriber bears ringing associated with placinga phone call. Accordingly, the call is bridged to the external calldevice 141 that was used to place the original call to the subscriber.When the subscriber answers that first phone call, the call is bridgedto the called party's call (already in progress to voicemail) and thecall proceeds as a “normal” phone call. The calling party using theexternal call device 141 is then disconnected from the voicemailinfrastructure 165 and connected to the subscriber call device 107. Inexemplary embodiments, the service node 130 breaks down the connectionto the voicemail infrastructure 165 and signals the SSP at the PSTN 140that the calls are being connected.

In other exemplary embodiments, once the subscriber has elected to takethe phone call at step 442, the service node 130 can bridge the phonecall to another end device instead of the subscriber's call device 107.For example, the service node 130 can bridge the phone call directly tothe set top box 110 and the phone call can proceed via the set top box110 and the communications device 106.

It is appreciated that in other exemplary embodiments, the voicemailmonitoring service can be implemented such that the media server 131 canprepare a phone call bridge based on the subscriber's decision. Forexample, when a caller identification indication (e.g., the calleridentification indication 370 in FIG. 3B) is displayed on the screen375, a further message can indicate “If The Caller Leaves A Voice Mail,Do You Want To listen To It?” can be displayed. In this way, thesubscriber can indicate whether or not the subscriber wants to listen toa voicemail prior to the voicemail being deposited into the voicemailinfrastructure 165. In addition, this implementation allows the mediaserver 131 to prepare a bridge if the calling party does begin todeposit a voicemail into the voicemail infrastructure 165. Therefore,once the voicemail is in the process of being deposited, the phone callcan be bridged as discussed above. As such, the subscriber can avoidmissing some of the voicemail while trying to make a decision whether ornot to monitor the voicemail as the voicemail is in progress. Ifhowever, the subscriber chooses to decide to listen to the voicemail asthe voicemail is being left or has elected to listen to a voicemail ifleft, but has missed a portion of the voicemail, in other exemplaryembodiments, the subscriber can have control of rewinding or forwardingalong the streamed voicemail message. For example, FIG. 4H illustratesan exemplary embodiment of the communications device 106 displayingvoice mail monitoring controls 497 a, 497 b, 497 c in accordance withexemplary embodiments. The “back” control 497 a can be selected by thesubscriber using the remote control 112 in order to back up the streamedvoicemail in order to listen to a portion of the voicemail that thesubscriber did not hear. The “forward” control 497 c can be selected bythe subscriber using the remote control 112 in order to forward thestreamed voicemail. The “play” control 497 b can be selected by thesubscriber in order to play the desired portion of the voicemail. Avoicemail indication message 498 can also be displayed giving thecurrent status of the voicemail, such as, but not limited to “receivingvoicemail” or “voicemail ended”. In this way, the subscriber has controlof monitoring the voicemail during the time in which the calling partyis depositing the voicemail. It is appreciated that in exemplaryembodiments, the subscriber is controlling the actual voicemail streamfrom the media server 131. In other exemplary embodiments, the set topbox 110 can include a local cache (not shown) for receiving the streamedvoicemail. As such, the subscriber can implement the controls 497 a, 497b, 497 c, to control the voicemail as deposited into the cache on theset top box 110.

In the embodiments described above, the phone calls into and out of thesubscriber location 105 can be logged. Referring again to FIG. 4D, theentries 481 from the IPTV call log 111 are displayed. In exemplaryembodiments, both incoming and outgoing calls are logged into the calllog 111. Referring again to FIG. 2, incoming calls are logged into thecall log 111 at step 70. FIG. 5 illustrates an IPTV incoming calllogging method in accordance with exemplary embodiments. At step 505, acall is made born the external call device 141. As described above, acentral office switch or SSP of the PSTN 140 receives the communication(e.g., communication signaling), resulting in a termination attempttrigger. The trigger causes a communication request to proceed over theSS7 network 145 via, e.g., a signal transfer point (STP). Thecommunication request is received at the controller server 125 at step510. At step 515, the controller server 125 authorizes the callconnection attempt to the subscribers call device 107. Concurrently, theserver 125 retrieves the IPTV network address associated with the IPTVsystem device (e.g., the set top box 110) from the IPTV database 128. Atstep 520, the caller identification information is routed to the set topbox 110 via the IPTV gateway 250 and the IPTV infrastructure 200. Atstep 525, the caller identification information is appended to the calllog 111 residing on the IPTV gateway 250, (or the controller server125). As discussed above, the subscriber can then access the call log111 via the communications device 106 and navigate the call log entries481 from the message center display 480 (sec FIG. 4D).

In exemplary embodiments, referring again to FIG. 2, the subscriber canalso return a phone call via the IPTV call log 111 at step 60. FIG. 6illustrates an IPTV call return method 600 in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. At step 605, the subscriber can browse the call log 111 byusing the remote control 112 to navigate through the call log entries481 on the screen 375 of the communications device 106. As describedabove with respect to FIG. 4E, the subscriber can select the return callmenu entry 493. Upon selection of the call return entry 493, at step610, a message is generated via the IPTV infrastructure 200 and IPTVgateway 250 in accordance with the methods described above to thecontroller server 125 indicating that the subscriber is invoking thecall return via the IPTV call log 111 service. The SPA application 132on the service node 130 is then invoked to implement the call return viaIPTV call log service. The SPA application 132 on the service node 130receives that call record and the subscriber caller identificationinformation. In one exemplary implementation, the call record is sent tothe SPA application 132 along with the message indicating that a callreturn via the IPTV call log 111 feature is being invoked. The messageinvoking the call return via IPTV call log service can further includethe subscriber call information either included with the message orprovided via pointer to the call identification database 127.

Referring still to FIG. 6, at steps 615 and 620, the SPA application 132on the service node 130 places a call to both the subscriber call device107 and the called party call device (e.g., the external call device141). The SPA application 132 uses the subscriber call number and thecalled number to place two phone calls via the PSTN 140. In oneexemplary implementation, the service node 130 can use two primary rateinterface (PRI) lines to route the two phones calls. Once the two phonecalls are placed, at step 625, the two calls are immediately bridged. Inanother exemplary implementation, the call is bridged when thesubscriber picks up the subscriber call device 107 as describedimmediately below. The first phone call is placed to the subscriber atthe subscriber location 105 on the subscriber call device 107 associatedwith the subscriber's caller identification information. In an exemplaryimplementation, the subscriber's call device rings with a ring tone thatis unique for calls placed to the subscriber by the SPA application 126for call return via the IPTV call log 111 phone calls. When thesubscriber picks up the phone, the subscriber hears ringing associatedwith placing a phone call under “normal” circumstances (e.g., thesubscriber picking up the phone, hearing a dial tone, and dialing anumber to the external call device 141). In turn, the call made to theexternal call device 141 by the service node 130 via the second PRI line(as discussed) is bridged to the phone call made via the first PRI lineto the subscriber call device 107. Accordingly, the call is placed tothe external call device 141 that was used to place the original call tothe subscriber. Since the subscriber caller identification informationis retrieved, the external call device 141 thus receives thesubscriber's caller identification information via the external callerdevice 141 corresponding caller identification equipment at step 630. Itis thus appreciated that the IPTV call return via the IPTV call log 111service allows the subscriber to search through the call log 111 ontheir communications device screen 375, select a call from the logentries 481 and place a return call to the corresponding number. Theservice first rings the subscriber's call device 107. When thesubscriber answers that first phone call, the call is routed to thecalled party and the call proceeds as a “normal” phone call.

As discussed above with respect to FIG. 2, calls placed from thesubscriber call device 107 can also be logged as outgoing calls at step65. As such, in accordance with exemplary embodiments described herein,when the subscriber returns the phone call via the IPTV call log 111, asdescribed immediately above, the call is logged as an outgoing call. Itis appreciated that any phone call made from the subscriber location 105(e.g., via the subscriber call device 107) is logged as an outgoing callin the IPTV call log 111.

FIG. 7 illustrates an IPTV outgoing call logging method 700 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. It is appreciated that an offhook delay trigger is initially placed on the subscriber line duringprovisioning at step 701. At step 702, the off hook delay trigger isdetected. At step 705, the subscriber places a phone call using thesubscriber call device 107. The subscriber can place the call in avariety of ways including placing a call via the IPTV call log 111either by returning the call log or trying the call again, etc. Thesubscriber can also make an original phone call, that is, not using theIPTV call log 111, but rather by dialing the subscriber call device 107.Regardless of the way in which the subscriber places the call, the callcan be logged as an outgoing call in the IPTV call log 111. As describedabove, a central office switch or SSP of the PSTN 140 receives thecommunication (e.g., communication signaling), resulting in a off hookdelay trigger. The trigger causes a communication request to proceedover the SS7 network 145 via, e.g., a signal transfer point (STP). Inturn, the PSTN 140 sends the dialed number to the controller server 125at step 710, and the SPA application 126 processes the called numberinformation. At step 720 the controller server 125 sends an “analyzeroute” message to the central office of the PSTN 140, which routes thecall. At step 725, the central office of the PSTN 140 completes the callto the called party, generally to the external call device 141. Thecontroller server 125 then retrieves the caller identificationinformation (e.g., from the caller identification database 127) at step730. At the same time, at step 730, the controller server 125 routes thecaller identification information to the set top box 110 via the IPTVgateway 250 and IPTV infrastructure 200. In an exemplary implementation,the SPA application 126 sends a TCP/IP message to the IPTV gateway 250containing the outgoing log commands, the caller identificationinformation and the phrase “Outgoing Call” for display in the messagecenter as illustrated in the name/call type 486 in FIG. 4D. In addition,the IPTV gateway 250 can send a phrase “Call Again” for display as themenu entry 496 in the message center 480 illustrated in FIG. 4E. Inother exemplary embodiments, the IPTV gateway 250 can be implemented todo a query to the caller identification database 127 and place the nameof the called party in the message instead of “Outgoing Call”.Therefore, at step 735, the caller identification information isappended to the call log 111 on the set top box 110.

As discussed above, in exemplary embodiments, the caller identificationindication 370 of FIG. 3B and the voicemail indication 470 of FIG. 4Bcan be non-persistent messages that pop up on the screen 375 and thendisappear after a period of time to alert the subscriber as to incomingcalls and voicemail messages. It is appreciated that the non-persistentmanner in which the indications 370, 470 are displayed allow thesubscriber to know that a call or voicemail has occurred, but withoutgenerally interfering with normal viewing of the program content 380 onthe communications device 106. However, it is further appreciated thatthe subscriber may not remember that a call or voicemail occurred or maynot see the indications 370, 470 if the subscriber was not viewing thescreen 375 when the indication 370, 470 popped up. As such, in otherexemplary embodiments, a persistent message waiting indication canfurther be displayed on the screen 375, thereby alerting the subscriberthat calls and voicemails have occurred and have been previouslydisplayed and can be represented as non-persistent indications, such asthe indications 370, 470, on the screen 375.

FIG. 8A illustrates an IPTV message-waiting indication method 800 inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. As discussed above, a voicemailcan be left in the voicemail infrastructure 165 when a caller leaves avoicemail message. It is appreciated that in other exemplaryembodiments, other message types can be deposited in otherinfrastructures that are network enabled and that can interface with thesystem 100. For example, emails can be sent to the subscriber computer109 in accordance with other accounts that the subscriber may have andfor which are stored in an accounts database and associated servicesprovided via the IPTV gateway 250. As such, various types of messagescan be delivered to the subscriber to any of the communications devicesat the subscriber location 105, at step 805. When the message is left inthe message infrastructure, such as the voicemail infrastructure 165,the message server, such as the email server 160, is alerted therebyinitiating a communication between the message server and the IPTVgateway 250, at step 810. In another exemplary implementation, the IPTVgateway 250 can periodically access the message infrastructure (e.g.,voicemail infrastructure 165) to query if there has been a new messagedeposited into the subscriber's account (e.g., voicemail account, emailaccount, etc.). As discussed above, at step 815, the IPTV gateway 250retrieves the message file from the message infrastructure. In oneexemplary implementation, if the message is a voicemail, as discussedabove, the voicemail file can be in a .wav format. As such, at step 820the IPTV gateway 250 accesses the media server 131 and the media encoder135 in order to initiate an encoding session, if necessary. At step 830,the IPTV gateway 250 communicates with the preferences server 211 toobtain the set top box 110 identification and set top box 110preferences. In an exemplary implementation, TCP communication can beexchanged between the IPTV infrastructure 200 and the IPTV gateway 250in order to coordinate transfer of the set top box 110 identification,set top box 110 preferences for display on the communications device106, and exchange of message waiting indications, for example. Themessage waiting indication may be transmitted to the set top box 110 ofthe IPTV-enabled device (e.g., the communications device 106) using,e.g., UDP/HTTP protocols, where the message waiting indication isdisplayed or otherwise rendered on the communications device 106 at step835.

As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3B and 4B, a uniquerepresentation of the message sender (e.g., caller) can be sent with thecaller identification indication 370 and the voicemail messageindication 470 as the icons 371, 471. In exemplary embodiments, the sameor similar indication can be used to display a persistent messagewaiting indication on the screen 375 of the communications device 106.The message waiting indication can be displayed on the screen 375 in alocation that is evident to the subscriber but in an area that does notinterfere with the normal viewing content 380 on the communicationsdevice 106.

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 displaying message waiting indications 870 in accordance withexemplary embodiments. As discussed above, the message waitingindications 870 can be one or more persistent icons that are displayedon the screen 375 of the communications device 106. The indications 870can be a unique representation related to the caller, including, bat notlimited to, a picture, a video clip, a text clip, a customized icon,etc. The accompanying representation, if any, can be stored locally suchas on the subscriber's set top box 110, or alternatively, therepresentation can be linked to the caller identification informationstored in the caller identification database 127. In other exemplaryembodiments, the indications 870 can be linked to an audio file that isunique to the caller such as a voice announcing the caller's name, whichcan be local to the subscriber location 105, such as residing on the settop box 110. Alternatively, the audio file could be coupled to thecaller identification information stored in the caller identificationdatabase 127. The above-described audio file can be recorded by thecaller in the same way that a caller announces a name and greeting whensetting up a voicemail account, for example. In still other embodiments,the audio file can be a portion of the actual voicemail that wasdeposited. The delivery of the representation to the subscriber's settop box 110 can be implemented in accordance with exemplary embodimentsas described with respect to the caller identification information asdescribed herein. The addition of video and audio that is implemented asvoicemail is delivered using the media server 131 as described abovewith respect to delivery of voicemail.

FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the communications device106 having a close-up view of the message waiting indications 870 whichincludes an icon 871, an icon 872, and an icon 873 in accordance withexemplary embodiments. For example, the message waiting indication 870could include the icon 871 indicating the phone calls have beenreceived. Furthermore, the icon 871 can be stacked indicating that therehave been multiple phone calls received. For example, three of the phoneicons 871 can be stacked. In another exemplary implementation, a singleinstance of the icon 871 can be displayed with the number “3” underneaththe icon indicating that three phone calls have been received.Alternatively, as illustrated, the icons 871 can be stacked incombination with a number displaying the number of calls received.Similarly, the icon 872 can be displayed indicating that voicemails havebeen deposited in the voicemail infrastructure 165. For example, two ofthe envelope icons 872 can be stacked indicating that two voicemails areawaiting the subscriber. In another exemplary implementation, a singleinstance of the icon 872 can be displayed with the number “2” underneaththe icon indicating that two voicemails have been deposited.Alternatively, as illustrated, the icons 872 can be stacked incombination with a number displaying the number of voicemails received.The icon 873 can further be displayed indicating emails have beenreceived at the subscriber location 105, which can be at the subscribercomputer 109 and/or the cellular phone 108. For example, ten of thecomputer icons 873 can be stacked indicating that ten emails have beenreceived. In another exemplary implementation, a single instance of theicon 873 can be displayed with the number “10” underneath the iconindicating that ten emails have been received (as illustrated).

It is therefore appreciated that the message waiting indications 870 asdescribed above provide a persistent indication and synopsis of calls,voicemails, emails and other message types that have been received atthe subscriber location 105. FIG. 8C illustrates the same icon for agiven message type. For example, the phone icon 871 is displayed forphone calls received, the envelope icon 872 is displayed for voicemailsreceived and the computer icon 873 is displayed for emails received.However, the icons 871-873 can be further personalized and customized toindicate the source of the message. FIG. 8D illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of the communications device 106 having a close up view ofthe message waiting icons 871, 872, 873 in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. The message waiting icons 871, 872, 873 can furtherindicate additional features such as source, urgency, frequency, etc.For example, for the calls received a first icon 871 a is displayed ashaving received two calls from the same source, and a second icon 871 bis displayed indicating a single phone call from another source. In oneexemplary implementation, the icons 871 a, 871 b are listed in the sameorder as they were received at the subscriber location 105. However, inanother exemplary implementation, the icons 871 a, 871 b can be listedin an order of priority. For example, for voicemail, a first icon 872 ais listed in front of a second icon 872 c, the icons 872 a, 872 c inthis example indicating voicemails from different sources. The firsticon 872 a includes a further message indication icon 872 b, that is, anexclamation point in this example, indicating an urgency of thevoicemail. As such, the icon 872 a, having the urgency icon 872 battached to the icon 872 a, can be placed at the forefront of the secondicon 872 c regardless of the order of receipt of the voicemailassociated with the first icon 872 a. A further unique icon, such as theicon 873, indicating, for example, the source being the workplace isfurther illustrated. It is appreciated that in other exemplaryimplementations, further indications can be included with the icons,including, but not limited to, source phone number for calls andvoicemails, email addresses and subject lines for emails, etc.

In an exemplary implementation, the subscriber can use the remotecontrol 112 to navigate the screen 375 to the message waitingindications 870 to highlight and select the indications of interest tobe navigated directly to the message center 480 as discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 4D and 4E. It is therefore appreciated that thesubscriber can navigate in multiple ways to the message center 480. Asdiscussed with respect to FIGS. 4D and 4E, the subscriber can navigateto the message center 480 from the EPG 475, for example. In the examplesdiscussed immediately above, the subscriber can alternatively navigateto the message center 480 via the message waiting indication icons871-873.

As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form ofcomputer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing thoseprocesses. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computerprogram code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such asfloppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readablestorage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded intoand executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus forpracticing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can alsobe in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored ina storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, ortransmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executedby a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such asover electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or viaelectromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code isloaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatusfor practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on ageneral-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segmentsconfigure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying outthis invention, but that the invention will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced item.

1. A method for generating communication requests via an InternetProtocol-enabled device, the method comprising: receiving a request toinitiate a first communication from an Internet Protocol-enabled devicehaving an Internet-Protocol-enabled device address; mapping the InternetProtocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a calling partynumber; and sending a first communication request to a calling partycommunication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enableddevice.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingretrieving called party caller identification information.
 3. The methodas claimed in claim 1 further comprising sending a second communicationrequest to a called party communication device over a voice network. 4.The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising bridging the calledparty and calling party communications devices in response to anacceptance of the communication request to the calling party.
 5. Themethod as claimed in claim 4 wherein the called party and calling partycommunication devices are PSTN-enabled devices.
 6. The method as claimedin claim 1, wherein the Internet Protocol-enabled device addressincludes at least one of a uniform resource locator and an Internetaddress.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the InternetProtocol-enabled device address corresponds to a set top box.
 8. Asystem for generating communication requests via an InternetProtocol-enabled device, the system comprising: a computer processingdevice; and a communication request generation application executing onthe computer processing device, the communication request application;receiving a request to initiate a first communication request from anInternet Protocol-enabled device having an Internet-Protocol-enableddevice address; mapping the Internet Protocol-enabled device address ofa calling party to a calling party number; and sending a firstcommunication request to a calling party communication device associatedwith the Internet Protocol-enabled device.
 9. The system as claimed inclaim 8 wherein the communication request generation applicationretrieves called party caller identification information.
 10. The systemas claimed in claim 8 wherein the communication request generationapplication sends a second communication request to a called partycommunication device over a voice network.
 11. The system as claimed inclaim 10 wherein the communication request generation applicationbridges the called party and calling party communications devices inresponse to an acceptance of the communication request to the callingparty.
 12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the called partyand calling party communication, devices are wireline telephones. 13.The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the Internet Protocol-enableddevice address includes at least one of a uniform resource locator andan Internet address.
 14. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein theInternet Protocol-enabled device address corresponds to a set top box.15. A computer program product for providing communication requests toan Internet Protocol-enabled device, the computer program productincluding instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, themethod comprising: receiving a request to initiate a first communicationrequest from an Internet Protocol-enabled device having anInternet-Protocol-enabled device address; mapping the InternetProtocol-enabled device address of a calling party to a calling partynumber; and sending a first communication request to a calling partycommunication device associated with the Internet Protocol-enableddevice.
 16. The computer program product as claimed in claim 15 whereinthe method further comprises retrieving called party calleridentification information.
 17. The computer program product as claimedin claim 15 wherein the method further comprises sending a secondcommunication request to a called party communication device over avoice network.
 18. The computer program product as claimed in claim 17wherein the method further comprises bridging the called party andcalling party communications devices in response to an acceptance of thecommunication request to the calling party.
 19. The computer programproduct as claimed in claim 15 wherein the Internet Protocol-enableddevice address corresponds to a set top box.
 20. The computer programproduct as claimed in claim 15, wherein the Internet Protocol-enableddevice address includes at least one of a uniform resource locator andan Internet address.